POLICE WARN OF PARKING LOT SCAM

11/12/08 2008-163



On Sunday, November 2, 2008, at approximately 4:47 p.m., .a man was in the parking lot of the Barnes and Nobles Booksellers in the 4400 block of Virginia Beach Blvd. when he was approached by two suspects that stated that they were having car trouble. The two men requested a ride to a nearby auto store so that they could purchase parts to fix their vehicle. The victim took the men to a nearby store and after a few moments, the men came outside. The men claimed the store could not accept large bills and requested a loan from the victim. The victim loaned the men smaller bills to cover their purchase.

The victim dropped one of the men back off at the Barnes and Noble Store and took the other to a nearby apartment complex, where the man said he was going to get the money to pay him back. The man never surfaced from the apartment complex and the victim called police.

Investigators have determined that similar cases have occurred since March of 2006. Two cases of this type have occurred in the same parking lot in the month of November 2008. Some of the previous cases have occurred in the Best Buy parking lot in the 200 block of Independence Blvd.

In each of the cases, one or both of these suspects approaches young men in their twenties in parking lots and asks for their help. The suspect(s) claim in each case to have some type of car trouble and request the assistance of their intended victim. The victims provide money to the suspects as a loan, not knowing they are being defrauded.

The first suspect is described as a black male, 35-45 years of age, 6’0 to 6’2” tall, with a gold- capped tooth in front, and an unshaven face. The second suspect is described as a black male, 35-45 years old, and 5’10” to 5’11” tall. Both men are described as friendly and well spoken.

Anyone with information about these crimes is encouraged to call the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers Office at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Callers remain anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 if their information leads to an arrest.

These cases remain under investigation by the Department’s Third Precinct Property Crimes Unit.

MPO Margie Long
Public Information Officer/Spokesperson
melong@vbgov.com, (757) 385-4097, (757) 430-6378 (fax)

Historic Preservation Town Meeting

Virginia Beach City Council Invites Public Comment at Historic Preservation Town Meeting on Sept. 24 at Kellam High School

Release Date: Friday, September 12, 2008 4 p.m.

Virginia Beach is approaching its 50th anniversary and is one of the most historic locations in Virginia. City Council is requesting that citizens help chart the course for the preservation of the city’s valuable historic resources by participating in a Historic Preservation Town Meeting on Sept. 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kellam High School, 2323 Holland Road. The input of citizens is needed to identify the needs and the best approaches to ensure that historic homes and buildings are preserved.

For more information and to confirm attendance at the meeting, please call 385-5104 or 385-8613.

CITY NEWS RELEASE

The following is provided for your information:

1. Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team - Conducts Dolphin Count Survey & Outreach Education Saturday (246mu)

http://www.vbgov.com/news.aspx?vgnextoid=e45528511555b110VgnVCM100000190c640a____

2. Kick Off to Kindergarten Preps Kids and Parents for School (247lib)

http://www.vbgov.com/news.aspx?vgnextoid=1bf728511555b110VgnVCM100000190c640a____


Virginia Beach City Manager’s Office

Media & Communications Group

757.385.4679 - Main Office

757.385.5665 - Fax

NEWS RELEASE - Seizure of Illegal Fire Works this weekend

MEDIA CONTACT:
Richard Kephardt, Fire Marshal - 385-4228
MPO Margie Long, VBPD PIO – 385-4097
Virginia Beach Fire and Police Departments Join Forces to Seize
Illegal Fire Works This Holiday Weekend

Virginia Beach Fire and Police departments are joining forces this July 4th holiday weekend to keep citizens safe by warning them that the use of fireworks is illegal. “The public’s safety is our top priority,” stated Virginia Beach Fire Marshal Richard Kephart. Teams from both agencies will be on-duty throughout the city enforcing state and city codes. Regardless of where fireworks are purchased, the possession or use of fireworks is a violation of the City of Virginia Beach Code section 12-43.2. Virginia Beach City Code specifically prohibits: firecrackers, skyrockets, torpedoes and other fireworks that explode, travel laterally, and rise into the air or fire projectiles in the air. All illegal fireworks will be seized and the responsible party may be issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) or a summons from a team member.”

More fires are reported on Independence Day than on any other day, and fireworks account for half of those fires (more than any other cause of fires). In 2006, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated more than 9,200 people for fireworks-related injuries. Sparklers, fountains, and novelties alone accounted for one-third of these emergency room fireworks injuries. Sparklers have a burning temperature of 1200ºF – three times hotter than matches.

We encourage citizens to enjoy one of the FREE fireworks shows scheduled at Mount Trashmore Park or along the Oceanfront beginning at 9:30 p.m. Friday evening.

For more information on fireworks, contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 385-4228.